Five Natural Disasters That Threaten The U.S.

What are the natural disasters that threaten the U.S.? Every year we go through a series of phenomenon that take lives and damage property. You can see references to these disasters in popular culture, but they really could happen. What scares you the most? Is it something caused by nature or mankind? War or some industrial mishap can happen, but the natural events listed here are guaranteed. Will it happen by wind? lightning? water? or a rock from outer space? Let us know what you think.

ASTEROID

The Bruce Willis movie, Armageddon (1998) offered the scenario of an asteroid hitting the earth and causing a catastrophic event that threatened to destroy the entire earth. This isn’t just a movie. Asteroids and other space debris hit the earth pretty regularly. Only a few months ago, for instance, a meteorite tore across Russia causing damage. What would happen if an object actually hit the planet? Scientists can’t say when the next devastating asteroid impact will occur, but odds are it won’t be for decades or centuries, but an unknown space rock could make a sucker punch any time. Many space experts say planning to deal with a continent-wide catastrophe should begin now. As a result, NASA is currently seeking to “capture” an asteroid to learn more about them. [For more information on asteroids that have actually struck the earth, read myFiveBest’s: Five Heavenly Bodies That Have Struck The Earth]

TSUNAMI

A tsunami is simply a series of waves caused by a displacement of water. They typically will appear on a large lake or an ocean following an earthquake or a volcanic eruption. A tsunami can also be created by an underwater explosion, such as that caused by a nuclear device. No coast is invulnerable to the threat of a tsunami. The U.S. Pacific coast, Atlantic coast, and Gulf coast all reside near fault lines which can trigger a tsunami which could cost billions of dollars and countless lives lost. Don’t think it could happen? Ask the people of Indonesia and Sri Lanka when a tsunami hit on December 26, 2004. A large earthquake struck in the Indian Ocean sending a tsunami towards land. A total of 227,898 people died and it was determined that it was the deadliest tsunami in recorded history. The earthquake and tsunami were so powerful that they changed the landscape of the earth AND slowed it’s rotation! A tsunami can happen at any time and in any coastal region. We should always be wary of one occurring and have a plan to escape. To learn how to survive a tsunami and other disasters, read myFiveBest’s: 5 Ways to Survive Dangerous Situations

SUPER VOLCANO

When most of us think of a volcano, we probably remember Mount Saint Helens which erupted on May 18, 1980 or perhaps we think about Vesuvius erupting near Rome. Those were both very bad volcanos, but they are nothing compared to a Super Volcano that could destroy most of the U.S., if not the world. A super-volcano happens when a volcano shoots out a huge amount of magma and create long-lasting effects on the weather. Think you are safe? The United States has three such volcanoes that are capable of doing this much damage. One is in Yellowstone National Park, while the other two reside in Colorado and in California. Should one or more of those explode at one time, the earth, as we know it, is gone in one hot flash. See more about Super Volcanoes at: Five Super Volcanoes That Could Devastate the Earth

MEGATHRUST EARTHQUAKE

Ever hear of a Megathrust Earthquake? It’s sort of like a normal earthquake, which we know can cause some serious damage – but only ten times worse! A megathrust earthquake occurs when two tectonic plates get stuck and exceed 9.0 on the Richter Scale. So far, 6 of these have occurred since 1900. Geologists know it’s just a matter of time before another 9.0 or larger earthquake strikes somewhere between Northern California and Canada. The shaking would be locally catastrophic, but the biggest threat is the tsunami (see above) that would ensue from a fault line that’s seismically identical to the one that caused the deadly 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. This is what Californians refer to as “The Big One”. Here are some safety tips to remember if you are caught in an earthquake: What To Do In Case Of An Earthquake

HEAT WAVES

A heat wave probably doesn’t sound as devastating as some of the natural disasters mentioned above, but it is a very real threat to our way of living. In fact, heat waves are so severe, they are the leading cause of death in the United States by natural phenomenon. Heat waves have been responsible for over 10,000 U.S. deaths and as our electrical systems become more strained and the core temperature of the earth rises, you can guarantee that more casualties are on the horizon from this occurrence in nature. The best thing you can do to protect you and your loved ones in case of a heat wave is to try and stay cool and hydrated. Do not over exert yourself in the sun. Here is some advice given to myFiveBest by Dr. David Jury at the Cleveland Clinic on protecting yourself against heat stroke.